Just Be Yourself

Yes, you've probably heard this one as much as any other adage out there, but in this day and age you really have to be yourself.

Ever since Steve Jobs died back in October, I can't help but notice all these magazines and articles giving tips and advice on how to become the next Steve Jobs.

For starters, this is bullshit.

What ever methods he used to run a company does not apply to every one. Having read his biography, Jobs was quite a hot head in the workplace and was cruel with his employees, often times humiliating them in front of everyone.

Regardless, it worked for him and now Apple is the most valuable company in the world. Again, this worked for him due to a list of factors too long to list here. But only because he acted a certain way, doesn't mean we should do the same to achieve success.

Sure, it's good to have a person you look up to for various reasons. I myself look up at Steve Jobs, his success story and philosophy of life inspires me to make something great out of life. But I don't see myself acting like him, mainly because I don't want to be like him.

I want to be myself.

Let's say you accomplish something big in life, something that people, hundreds of years from now will remember you for, would you like to be remembered as the person that everyone compared you to or do you want to be remembered as yourself?

Think about it, it's not a trick question.

The Digital and Print Royalty Calculator Sheet for Self-Publishing Authors

With self-publishing anyone can now send their magnum opuses out to the hands of millions of readers worldwide. Amazon and Barnes & Noble allow you to upload your digital book up to their site. Aggregators such as Smashwords distribute your eBook to Apple, Sony, Kobo, etc. Also, don't think that print books are completely dead. Createspace (Amazon's Print On Demand company) allows you to upload your manuscript and  sell print editions of your book.

If you want to sell your product direct, there's Gumroad, a site that lets you sell any digital good which you can post back to your site or blog.

Keep in mind, however, that each company takes different distribution percentages. Also, you get different royalties depending on how you price your eBook. It can all get very confusing. 

But fear no more! I have just made your life easier.

I created two excel spreadsheets, one for eBook Royalties, using all the mentioned distributors royalties, charges, etc. and another one for print books, using Createspace's Royalties.

All you have to do is download the sheet, by clicking on the link below, set your book prices in their respective boxes and that's it. For the print book spreadsheet you have to add the price and page count of your book. (Don't worry it's very simple)

Digital and Print Royalty Calculator Sheet

NOTE: In this sheet, I only used the options most people tend to go with and seem to me like the right option. I didn't include a distribution charge for iBooks or Kobo because most self-pub authors use Smashwords to distribute to them, as well as to the Sony store and Diesel. In addition, Kobo, the Sony Store, and other stores, require an aggregator like Smashwords for you to publish your book to them.

To distribute to the iBookstore, on your own, you need a Mac and an ISBN number. Most people own a PC and don't have access to a Mac. Also, ISBN numbers are pricey and Smashwords will give you one for free or you can buy one from them for ten dollars (as long as you distribute with them).

I also didn't include Bookbaby because they charge around $100 (plus an annual fee after your first year) to do the same thing Smashwords does, albeit, they give you 100% of your royalties, which needs no calculation.

As for Google Books, I have heard from plenty of people the pain it is to get your book on there and not to mention that almost no one uses it. So I found it pointless to include them on the list.

If you would like for me to include these or any other distributors/aggregators, email me at adonismarrero at gmail.com and I'll include them.

Whatever makes it easier and convenient for everyone.

As If Banning Books From Schools is Really Helping Anyone

The folks over at the American Library Association (A.L.A) released their top ten list of most frequently challenged and banned books.

For those of you asking yourselves, "What is the difference between challenged and banned?” you're in luck. Here is the answer, straight from the A.L.A:

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.  A banning is the removal of those materials.  Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.  Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

Schools and libraries send these challenges to the A.L.A in an attempt to ban these disgusting, warped and malignant books from the hands of innocent school kids.

If schools and libraries are doing this in an attempt to ban these books, then check out this scenario.

Just Another Lemon Tree

Ignore the dog and focus on the lemon tree.

Alright, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade - make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager. Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons. Do you know who I am? I'm the man who's gonna burn your house down! With the lemons. I'm going to to get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down! 

– Cave Johnson, Portal 2

Don’t get turned off by the fact that this quote comes from a fictional character and from a PC game nonetheless. This quote actually has a lot of meaning to it.

The old adage we’ve heard or been taught by our parents was that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade (this is usually follwed by an exclamation mark to show the enthusiasm!). In layman terms, this means:  take what life gives you and make the best out of it.

Could This Be The Future of Books?

With eBooks sales skyrocketing every year thanks to Amazon's Kindle and the Tablet craze, one can only ask, what's next?

I've written about this before: how print books will fade away and the majority will adopt the eBook format. Especially since you can get an eReader for $79 or a tablet for $199, both from Amazon. It's inevitable, just like how DVD made the VHS tape extinct, CD's made cassettes extinct and how smartphones are making standard cellphones extinct.

Films: Why This Year Will Be One of The Best Years and Why 2011 Was Forgettable.

Yes, I'm glad 2011 is over. Not  because I could put Charlie Sheen's rants behind me, not because there was no iPhone 5 and not because the Yankees didn't win a World Series. I’m glad it’s over because 2012 will be better than 2011, for films at least.

This year is already shaping up to be one of the biggest years for films in quite a while. Here’s why.

Obama Vs. The Crazy Ones, or, How An Obama Campaign Ad Has Me Thinking Twice Before Voting For Him

For those of you that have been keeping track of the GOP primary should know by now that none of the clowns trying to get a nomination to represent the Republican party should be voted as President of the United States of America.

You can complain about Obama all you want, but if you don't know about about the so-called candidates ready to run against him, then here is a brief rundown on The Crazy Ones, the ones who don't see things differently.

Leaving Out The Parts That People Skip

Murakami's 1Q84: Finished. And by finished I don't only mean that I finally finished the 900+ paged book, but also, that I'm through with reading any novel that touches the millennial page mark.

At the time, having never read any of Murakami's novels, such as Norwegian Wood or Kafka on the Shore, I thought it was best to read his latest novel to get a sense of the guy and his work, After hearing positive reviews for the book, I decided to dive right in.

And This is Why eBooks Will Never Replace Real Books

By now, everyone knows that eBooks are the future when it comes to reading. eBook sales have been tripling in the last couple of years and printed book sales have been dropping fast. This has to do with reading tablets such as the Kindle and iPad that allows us to carry around an entire library in our hands. The convenience factor is great considering that anyone would rather lug around their slim tablet with Game of Thrones in it, as opposed to carrying all 800+ pages of Game of Thrones.